Ayer Modern MS BIA RelocationInventory of the Bureau of Indian Affairs Indian Relocation Records,
1936-1975, bulk 1956-1958Ayer.Modern.MS.BIA RelocationThe Newberry Library - Modern Manuscripts60 West Walton StreetChicago, Illinois, 60610312-255-35112002This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit
2016-05-14T15:50-0500Bureau of Indian Affairs Indian Relocation Records,Ayer.Modern.MS.BIA RelocationThe Newberry Library - Modern Manuscripts1.3 linear feet(3 boxes)Bulk, 1956-19581936-19753a 57 11Photographs, promotional brochures, statistics, clippings, etc., dating mainly from 1956 to 1958, from album / notebooks compiled by Bureau of Indian Affairs agencies and relocation program field offices at reservations and schools (Cheyenne River, Fort Peck, Great Lakes, Intermountain School, Menominee, New Mexico Pueblos, Pierre, Sisseton including Flandreau, Turtle Mountain, Winnebago), and in cities (Chicago, St. Louis).Materials are in English.United States. Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Provenance

The Bureau of Indian Affairs' Chicago Field Office donated the Indian Relocation Records to Fritz Jennings of the Newberry Library, ca. 1975.

Conditions Governing Access

The Bureau of Indian Affairs Indian Relocation Records are open for research. They are available one box at a time in the Special Collections Reading Room (Priority III).

Cite As

Bureau of Indian Affairs Indian Relocation Records, The Newberry Library, Chicago.

Ownership and Literary Rights

The Bureau of Indian Affairs Indian Relocation Records are the physical property of the Newberry Library. Literary rights, including copyright, may belong to the authors or their legal heirs or assigns.

Processed by

Jodi Morrison, 2001; Karyn Goldstein, 2002.

History of the Bureau of Indian Affairs Indian Relocation Program

Indian commissioner Glenn L. Emmons started the Bureau of Indian Affairs' (BIA) relocation program in 1948. Migration to urban areas became a general trend in the post World War II years. By 1953 placements had reached 2600, and they peaked in 1957 with 6964. By 1960 a total of 33,466 Indians had been relocated.

Government relocation started as a part of Navajo-Hopi rehabilitation in 1948 when the BIA recruited Navajo and Hopi men for agricultural and railroad work. Soon they demanded better jobs, so the BIA established job placement offices in Denver, Salt Lake City, and Los Angeles. The Navajo relocation program began on a small scale but quickly gathered momentum.

By 1950 the BIA had extended relocation services to other Indian tribes. Congress soon expanded the program by appropriating funds for additional offices. In 1951 there were Field Relocation Offices in Denver, Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, and Chicago. Offices were later added in other cities, including Oakland, San Jose, San Francisco, Dallas, Cleveland, and St. Louis.

The BIA relocation program originally provided transportation, job placement, subsistence funds until the first paycheck, and counseling. In 1956 Public Law 959 added vocational training to the program. Participants, mostly between the ages of eighteen and thirty-five, received two years of benefits for either on-the-job experience or vocational classes. Typically, Indians working in factories on the reservation received apprenticeship provisions, and relocated individuals received vocational training. The 1956 legislation also increased counseling services.

The BIA relocation program was controversial. Some believed that industrial jobs freed Indians from BIA control, exposed them to improved education, and provided a means to end Indian poverty. Others believed that the program forced Indians to leave reservations without improving living conditions or the quality of job training.

The BIA relocation program continued until at least 1979.

Scope and Content of the Collection

Photographs, clippings, maps, employment brochures, and statistics compiled in albums / notebooks by Bureau of Indian Affairs agencies and offices on reservations and in urban areas, 1936-1975, bulk 1956-1958. The materials were prepared by each office to provide information to other relocation offices and potential residents. In addition to numerous photographs of Indians, Indian families, reservation buildings, vocational classes, etc., there are promotional brochures describing educational opportunities, entertainment, and shopping in the cities, and employment brochures from companies that hired Indians.

Flandreau Indian Vocational High School.Intermountain School.United States. Bureau of Indian Affairs. Cheyenne River Agency.United States. Bureau of Indian Affairs. Fort Peck Agency.United States. Bureau of Indian Affairs. Great Lakes Agency.United States. Bureau of Indian Affairs. Menominee Agency.United States. Bureau of Indian Affairs. Pierre Agency.United States. Bureau of Indian Affairs. Sisseton Agency.United States. Bureau of Indian Affairs. Turtle Mountain Agency.United States. Winnebago Agency. Bureau of Indian Affairs.ChicagoIndians and the WestIndians of North America -- EducationIndians of North America -- EmploymentIndians of North America -- Illinois -- Chicago -- History -- 20th century -- SourcesIndians of North America -- Missouri -- St. Louis -- History -- 20th century -- SourcesIndians of North America -- Montana -- History -- 20th century -- SourcesIndians of North America -- Nebraska -- History -- 20th century -- SourcesIndians of North America -- New Mexico -- History -- 20th century -- SourcesIndians of North America -- North Dakota -- History -- 20th century -- SourcesIndians of North America -- South Dakota -- History -- 20th century -- SourcesIndians of North America -- Urban residenceIndians of North America -- Utah -- History -- 20th century -- SourcesIndians of North America -- Wisconsin -- History -- 20th century -- SourcesManuscripts, AmericanPhotographsReservation Agencies,Bulk, 1956-19581936-1963
Scope and Contents note

Contains albums of reservation agency offices including: Cheyenne River Agency, Fort Peck Agency, Great Lakes Agency, Menominee Agency, New Mexico Pueblos, Pierre Agency, Sisseton Agency, Turtle Mountain Agency, and Winnebago Agency. Albums contain photographs of reservation buildings, photographs of Indians, clippings, histories of tribes, maps, and statistics. The Winnebago Agency notebook also includes 1936 constitutions and corporate charters for the Omaha, Ponca, and Santee Sioux tribes. There is also an album prepared by the relocation agent at the Intermountain School in Utah that contains syllabi and photographs of vocational classes.

Includes records of the Chicago Field Office and the St. Louis Field Office. There are photographs, clippings, maps, employment brochures, and statistics. Much of the material is promotional in nature, describing education, shopping, and entertainment for each city. Most of the employment brochures are from companies in the St. Louis area that hired Indians. Many of the photographs are of families who relocated to the Chicago area.